When a person suffers a paralysis injury, their life can change dramatically and permanently in just a few seconds. People who are paralyzed might no longer be able to work, exercise, participate in their daily activities, or even care for themselves independently. They might also face lifelong medical bills to treat their condition.
When you or a loved one suffers a paralysis injury, and you think that someone else caused your injury, you might be entitled to collect damages through a legal claim. A Clearwater paralysis injury lawyer at our firm could meet with you to learn the details of your accident and help you pursue compensation for your losses. Call today to schedule a free consultation with a compassionate catastrophic injury attorney.
Understanding the Condition of Paralysis
Paralysis is a type of catastrophic injury that occurs when a person is unable to move all or a portion of their body. People who are paralyzed experience varying degrees of function and mobility loss in the affected areas.
Depending on the degree of the paralysis injury, patients can experience some of the following symptoms:
- Numbness
- Mobility impairment
- Tingling or prickly sensations
- Sexual functioning impairment
- Breathing and respiratory problems
- Bladder and bowel control impairment
- Complete loss of feeling or diminished sensations in the affected area
Our Clearwater lawyers understand the devastating effects paralytic injuries can have on a person and could work tirelessly to get the compensation they need and deserve.
The Life-Altering Consequences of Paralytic Injuries
Paralysis usually has significant financial implications because survivors often need a lifetime of medical care. In addition to the initial emergency room visit and hospital stay, they frequently need surgeries and extensive rehabilitation, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Some people with paralysis regain some mobility with extensive therapy, while others experience permanent disabilities.
Paralyzed individuals might need to renovate their homes to make them handicap accessible. They might also need to purchase wheelchairs, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, and other assistive devices, such as special beds and furniture. Some paralysis injury survivors need home health care aides to help them perform their everyday tasks, such as getting dressed and moving around the house. Some need ventilators and round-the-clock medical supervision and might find it more convenient to live in a specialized care facility.
When pursuing compensation, injured parties need to think about their future needs because paralysis injuries do not just impair a person’s immediate life. They need to seek a damages award or settlement that makes room for what they might need for the rest of their lives. Our seasoned Clearwater paralysis injury attorneys could work closely with life planners, medical experts, and economists to learn more about the injury and its potential impact on a paralyzed person’s future. Our diligent legal team could fight determinedly for a fair amount of compensation that would allow the paralyzed individual to lead a more comfortable life.
What Kinds of Compensation Can a Paralysis Injury Attorney Help Me Seek?
Paralysis injuries can have devastating impacts on an individual and their entire family. Working with a compassionate legal team that understands what paralysis can do could give an injured party and their concerned family members the best chance of alleviating their financial worries. An experienced Clearwater injury attorney could meet with a paralysis survivor and their care team and help them pursue a damages award or settlement that would make a real difference in the rest of their life.
Individuals paralyzed in accidents caused by others are often eligible to collect different types of damages.
Economic Damages
Paralysis injuries are costly. In addition to immediate medical care after an accident, many people need ongoing medical and assistive care throughout the remainder of their lives. Economic damages are the financial costs and quantifiable losses that stem from a paralysis injury.
With the help of a trusted legal team, a paralyzed individual could pursue the following types of economic damages:
- Lost wages
- Funds to buy a modified vehicle
- Assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, braces, and respiratory aids
- Recovery of past medical expenses, such as for their ambulance ride, emergency room care, hospital admission, surgeries, and doctor’s visits
- Ongoing and future medical care expenses, such as for prescriptions and anticipated surgical or other needs
- Rehabilitation expenses for physical therapy to prevent atrophy of affected muscles, joints, and bones
- Caregiver or nursing expenses if a patient needs at-home medical care or assistance to get through their days
- Remodeling expenses to accommodate their new lifestyle and physical needs, such as installing wheelchair ramps, wider doorways, and accessible bathrooms
- Anticipated future lost earning expenses if an injury prevents a paralyzed individual from returning to the same line of work or any type of work at all
A dedicated legal team could help a paralysis survivor keep track of their economic losses by assisting them in collecting bills, receipts, and pay stubs.
Non-Economic Damages
When people suffer a paralysis injury, they experience more than just tangible losses. In addition to physical needs, they might encounter other losses that could impair their ability to function independently. Learning that they have been paralyzed could result in a great deal of mental anguish, pain and suffering, anger, anxiety, and depression. A paralysis survivor might feel that their life has less value and a diminished quality.
While nobody can put a precise dollar value on these non-economic losses, a caring paralysis injury lawyer in Clearwater could use their experience and skills to help pursue a reasonable figure.
The goal of economic and non-economic damages in legal claims is to help make the survivor whole again or as close to whole as possible, given their injuries.
Punitive Damages
In limited circumstances, paralysis survivors might also be entitled to collect punitive damages, which are supposed to punish offenders. To collect punitive damages, a claimant must provide evidence that goes beyond standard negligence. According to Florida Statutes § 768.72, the plaintiff must show proof of gross negligence or intentional misconduct by the defendant. A committed lawyer could help fight for a fair damages award or settlement on a paralysis survivor’s behalf.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
In most circumstances, people who suffer paralysis caused by someone else have just two years from the date of the incident that led to their injury to file suit. In addition to statutory concerns, filing a legal claim quickly can also be helpful in other ways. Working with a qualified legal team in Clearwater right from the start could give a paralysis survivor a better chance of gathering evidence and witnesses.
Cases involving paralysis injuries can be complex. Perenich Law Injury Attorneys is not afraid to take on complicated issues. We have the legal resources and knowledge to do what is best for individuals who have suffered paralyzing injuries and are seeking justice.
Work With a Clearwater Paralysis Injury Attorney Today
While some people suffer paralysis due to progressing medical illnesses, most cases arise from preventable accidents, such as car crashes, slip and falls, and sporting and recreational accidents.
If you believe you became paralyzed because of someone else’s careless or reckless actions, you might feel angry and overwhelmed. You deserve justice and a chance to seek compensation. Speak with a Clearwater paralysis injury lawyer today to learn about your legal options. At Perenich Law Injury Attorneys, we are 3 Brothers Dedicated to Helping Others. Our family-centered firm takes pride in caring for and helping clients like you. Call now.
(727) 669-2828